If American muscle cars turn you on, check out this video that shows a thrilling drag race between a C7 Corvette Z06, and two Dodge muscle cars– a Charger Scat Pack and a Challenger R/T Scat Pack. The race took place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the Corvette faced off against the Charger and the Challenger in two separate runs. The results were surprising. The video comes to us from Wheel’s YouTube channel.
The C7 Corvette Z06 is one of the most powerful and agile sports cars ever made by General Motors. It has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It also has a lightweight aluminum frame, a carbon fiber hood, and a rear transaxle for precise power transfer. The Corvette weighs 3,524 lbs, which gives it a 700 lbs weight advantage over the heavier Dodge models.
The Charger Scat Pack and the Challenger R/T Scat Pack are both based on the same platform and share the same engine – a 6.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 that delivers 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. However, the Charger is slightly heavier than the Challenger, with a curb weight of 4,400 lbs versus 4,250 lbs. The Charger also has a front-heavy weight distribution of 55/45, while the Challenger has a more balanced 52/48 ratio. Both cars have an eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-wheel drive system.
The Challenger R/T Scat Pack, however, has some modifications that make it more suitable for drag racing. It has drag radials, which are tires designed to provide better traction and grip on the track. It also has lighter wheels, which reduce the unsprung weight and improve the acceleration and handling. These upgrades give the Challenger an edge over the Charger and the Corvette, especially in the launch and the first few seconds of the race.
The video shows the Corvette easily beating the Charger in the first run, with a time of 11.5 seconds at 124 mph. The Charger finished in 12.4 seconds at 115 mph, which is not bad for a four-door sedan, but not enough to challenge the Corvette.
Next up, the Corvette Z06 took on the Challenger R/T Scat Pack. On the pass, the Challenger, sporting drag radials and lighter wheels, posed a challenge, so to speak. However, a withering start from the Corvette resulted in a 14.84-second finish at 112.29 miles per hour, an outcome far from the Z06’s advertised potential. The Challenger matched the Charger’s time but clocked a slightly higher speed.
On a bittersweet note, this race is the culmination of 100 years ICE development and factory horsepower. With General Motors pivoting to the mid-engined C8 Corvette in 2020 and Dodge nixing both Challenger and Charger after 2023, these duels symbolize the end of an era. The future holds new designs and powertrains, with whispers of the next-gen Charger being a three-door liftback with either a twin-turbo I6 or an all-electric engine. Meanwhile, the Corvette will soon morph into an 800-horsepower ZR1, a turbocharged evil twin of the Z06.
Whatever tomorrow brings, turn up and listen to these modern-era supercars battle it out.